Key result
Conservative management of a 22-year-old male with a congenital pericardial defect and left atrial appendage herniation resulted in an uneventful clinical progress.
Case Report (n=1)
Conservative management can be a viable approach for patients with symptomatic congenital partial absence of the pericardium and left atrial appendage herniation.
Supports conservative management in select congenital pericardial defects; leaves open need for prospective data before broader adoption.
Pericardial defects are infrequent congenital anomalies due to agenesis caused by premature atrophy of the common cardinal vein or Cuvier duct during the 5(th) or 6(th) week of embryonic life. These congenital defects are rare, typically observed as an incidental finding and usually remain asymptomatic. Nevertheless, the more widespread use of modern imaging techniques has contributed to an increase of its incidence in recent years. There is currently no consensus regarding therapeutic options, all of which are based on small retrospective studies that evaluate the risk of developing a life-threatening complication such as herniation and incarceration of the myocardium. We report on a 22-year-old male who presented with sudden onset of sharp chest pain and dyspnea. Computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance scan revealed a pericardial defect adjacent to the lateral free wall of the left atrium with associated herniation of the left atrial appendage. The patient was managed conservatively and had an uneventful clinical progress.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
A 2013 study conducted a case report in Congenital partial absence of the pericardium (n=1). Conservative management was evaluated on Clinical progress. Conservative management of a 22-year-old male with a congenital pericardial defect and left atrial appendage herniation resulted in an uneventful clinical progress.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: